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This is how we’re leaning. If we’re willing to pay $10k for a cruise in the YC but feel we can’t leave the peace and tranquility of the YC (unless we want to deal with the rude pax in the rest of the ship) we may as well start looking at Viking. At least we can enjoy the entire ship. I was hoping our experience over New Years was isolated but from what I’m reading here and other social media sites it seems to be becoming more common, at least on Divina.

You sound exactly how I did after 14 days on Divina in January. The low MSC pricing is attracting people that do not know how to behave. Add in unlimited booze and it’s not a fun experience at all. I completely understand and agree with your feelings on this. It took me and my husband a few weeks to decompress after our cruise…that’s never happened to us before in 40+ cruises. My husband flat out refused to book another MSC cruise when I showed him the pricing on this April cruise. He said he would rather pay almost double for half the days than give MSC another chance right now. For you guys who don’t believe/understand what the OP (and me) are saying I hope you never have a cruise like we did, but if you do you’ll know what we’re talking about. It is very hard to let things go when it’s multiple incidents every single time you leave your room. They made the “party” crowd on Carnival look like monks. I’ve said it before and I’ll repeat it here, I feel very sorry for the crew on Divina who have to deal with people like this

I’ve been pricing cruises for April for the last few weeks. On every single occasion MSC was less expensive by hundreds of dollars than RCCL, HAL, Celebrity, Carnival and NCL. In this economy people are trying to save money so how can they fail with this pricing? We booked Boston to Bermuda since we don’t have to fly to the ship 04/07/2023 in a Club Balcony suite. This 7 day cruise on NCL Pearl is costing hundreds of dollars more than our 14 day Divina cruise cost over New Years. We had drinks included on MSC we do not on NCL. My hope is that everyone chooses MSC that week so the ship won’t be full 🤣

Oh good! So you’ll know what to expect! Agree about the crew. Our room attendant was so great and very friendly which we hadn’t experienced on a cruise in a while. CD was just meh…nice guy but never really saw him except when he introduced the theater shows so we didn’t have any interactions with him. The reason we love Divina is even though it’s a huge ship at just shy of 140,000 tons, it still “looks” like a ship and it’s layout is similar to many ships we’ve cruised on other lines.

Despite our crazy cruise last month Divina is our favorite ship as well. All of the menus are in the live review I did. In 2021 there was an up charge for items on the left side of the menu, like for example the NY strip was $9.99 but now it is all free. The only food that has an up charge is on the back of the men… filets and lobster tails for $19.99 each. We enjoyed every meal in the MDR. I recommend asking for Generose in Black Crab if you’re not cruising in the YC. We had a table for 2 #544 in her section and she made our dining experience so much better. She came over from 13 yrs on Celebrity because her husband is also on the ship, so you know she was trained well and service is her specialty. She wanted everything to be perfect for us We loved her! We did not see food or anyone eating in the Sports bar and we spent a few evenings in there watching football. Divina is a great ship, however it is not built for the 3800+ pax we had the first 10 days. There are not enough loungers on deck and it was crazy trying to find a place to sit. We enjoyed her so much more in Europe when there was around 2000 pax and in 2021 when there were only 490 pax. I think if you avoid holiday sailings and times when children are out of school it won’t be as packed. But who knows people are reporting 3500 pax as recent as last week. Maybe that’s the new norm for Divina Here is one menu from our cruise last month

You can’t use your VC number though even on the incognito site

Ahh okay. For that I see ocean view, suite and YC only. Interior and Balcony sold out. That’s a popular week because of the holiday and schools being closed a couple of days. I wouldn’t be surprised if it does sell out.

That’s strange. I just looked again and I see this 11/18/2023 14 day Seascape correct? I just randomly chose Oceanview Bella for that sailing. It’s showing suites and inside as sold out. I didn’t add my VC number not sure if that made a difference.

There are some balcony rooms showing up now for 1&2 pax on that sailing.

Someone on another social media is looking for a solo room on Divina trans Atlantic repositioning sailing and nothing is available. A TA responded and said that there weren’t anymore solo fares available on that cruise and that MSC has a limit to how many solo’s they will sell per sailing. @Itchy&ScratchyMaybe that’s the case in the sailing you’re looking at?

I’m surprised they didn’t ask you if you were a Voyagers member. You can definitely have them add it now.

Reading some similar posts on FB so it could be a website problem.

I wouldn’t be surprised if all of the lines started to do this with the current price of food. I guess I’m in the minority but I’d rather have fewer selections of higher quality food than dozens of items that aren’t very good. I like MSC’s streamlined buffet I just wish the hot food was hotter.

Completely agree.

Easyplus the Sauvignon Blanc was Canyon Road. It’s a $6 a bottle wine in the states but honestly it was fine as long as it was chilled enough. I had it a few times.

We’ve been toying with the idea after seeing their ship in Miami last month. Have you tried it?

No comparison in my opinion. I like MSC don’t get me wrong, but I like Celebrity better.

During school breaks expect there to be a lot of kids. MSC offers the “kids sale free” promos and people take advantage of that.

Easy package drink list

Do you have Easy or Easy Plus? Easy is all Wells spirits (think low end all inclusive resort type no name alcohol)frozen drinks, beer house wine etc. Easy Plus has more name brand like Tito’s, 1800 tequila, etc. Here is a link to the specific drinks available https://static1.squarespace.com/static/617ac6f28abd337ac8fc5f75/t/62264424e0a64364affa6ab5/1646674982750/MSC+Divina+Main+Bar+Menu+2022.pdf

As others have said their website is a disaster. As long as you have your edocs including the health summary, luggage tags and boarding pass you’re fine. I have seen people show up at the port without their docs printed out and they were fine. An MSC rep told my SIL she couldn’t check in for her 02/19/2023 cruise until the week before. So ridiculous that some of their agents don’t even know their own policies. Just double check your edocs to be sure all of the info is correct. For some reason MSC always screws up our passport expiration dates by one calendar day. It’s happened every single time I’ve cruised with them despite the fact it shows the correct dates on our web check in. Are you by any chance on Seascape?

You are my kind of guy!! Cannot wait til next year when my husband will be fully retired and we will have the freedom to do this!! I know you’re in the YC but how crowded does the rest of the ship seem when you’re out and about? My brother and his wife and adult daughter will be on 02/19th and they’ve only taken one cruise on Disney 20 yrs ago. It’s school vacation week but she’s a teacher and can only go during that time. They’re not travelers at all but their daughter just finished her Masters and she got them to book this as a graduation gift just to get them to go somewhere. I’m a little nervous they’ll be overwhelmed on such a huge ship.

When is your cruise? If you have received your edocs you’re checked in.

lolol Thats right I remember you telling me that before. Have you lost your accent?

Very true. We are really hoping for a better behaved group of people. The cutbacks don’t bother us as much as that does…we’re just happy to be on a cruise ship.